Opening Match: The Briscoe Brothers vs. Jigsaw & Ruckus (w/Julius Smokes).
Fast and furious opening as Jiggy and Jay take it to the mat. Ruckus hits some flippy moves, but it’s not long before Mark is flying over the top with a tope. Back in, Ruckus goes for the moonsault legdrop, but Mark reverses to a schoolboy. Cool counter! The match breaks down (more so) and the Vulture Squad transforms into Vulturetron and hits the Rolling Cradle Suplex into the powerbomb. Jay makes the save. The Briscoes finish quickly with the Springboard Doomsday Device at 6:00. About what you’d expect, given the teams and Mark’s health. The Briscoes looked dominant, though. *3/4

Larry Sweeney comes out to offer them a spot in Sweet ‘n’ Sour. Chris Hero complains that Brent Albright cost him the match the last time they were here, but he’s changed his attitude, so he’s calling out Delirious again.

Chris Hero (w/Sweet ‘n’ Sour Inc.) vs. Delirious.
Delirious tries to wrestle, but Hero keeps using his tassels against him. Hero boots him and hits a senton for two. Hero throws him down and hits another senton for two. A dropkick misses, and Delirious hits a flying headscissors. Hero goes for the swinging uranage, but Delirious counters to the imperceptible DDT. Delirious hits his running clotheslines, but Hero sidesteps him and nails him with a roaring elbow. ONE, TWO, TH-NO! Delirious catches him with a headbutt and the Panic Attack. That sets up Shadows Over Hell, but Hero hits him with the elbow on the way down. That sets up another roaring elbow for the win at 8:17. Poor Delirious’ bad luck continues. Hero seems to be stuck in the Twilight Zone, though. **1/2

Sweeney calls out Roderick Strong, so we get…

Roderick Strong vs. Eddie Edwards (w/Sweet ‘n’ Sour Inc.).
Thanks to my introduction to 2CW, I’m now excited to see Edwards get utilized in ROH. Armbar exchange early, but Edwards takes over after a headbutt. Roderick blocks the 2K1 Bomb and chops his way back. Sweeney trips Strong up from the floor, though, allowing Edwards to hit a flying kick. Edwards stomps a mudhole, and Hero takes a cheapshot at Strong. Strong wins a battle of forearms to send Edwards to the floor. Strong chops him all the way around the ring. Ah, that’s the “freaky retard strength” I remember. Back in, Edwards hits a flying chinbreaker for two. He misses a charge and gets Half-Nelson backbreakered. ONE, TWO, TH-NO! Strong sets up for the Tiger Driver, but Sweeney distracts the ref. That allows Hero to sneak in and nail Strong in the back of the head. Edwards finishes with a quebrada at 9:46. Big win for Edwards, even with the interference. The match was okay, but it felt like Edwards was holding back a bit because he’s not on Strong’s level in ROH. I’d like to see a rematch. **3/4

Adam Pearce shows off his new NWA Heavyweight Title, which leads to…

NWA Heavyweight Title: Adam Pearce (w/Sweet ‘n’ Sour Inc.) vs. Brent Albright.
Fans chant, “Repo Man,” but Pearce is starting to look like a bald Johnny Drama. Albright steamrolls Pearce, but Shane Hagadorn drags him to the floor. Pearce accidentally nails Bobby Dempsey with a right, but then he doesn’t care anyway. Back in, they take it to the mat – and it’s good! Albright keeps smacking Pearce right in the face. Albright goes for an O’Connor Roll, but Pearce ducks, sending Albright’s throat into the rope. Albright gets busted open, and Pearce goes to work on the cut. To the floor, Pearce rips up the outside mat and sets up for the piledriver. Albright reverses and catapults him into the post. Sweeney brings a chair into the ring to get Pearce intentionally disqualified, but Roderick Strong runs in and Yakuza Kicks the chair right into Sweeney’s face. GREAT bump by Sweeney! Albright hulks up and pummels the cut on Pearce’s head. 61Knee. Pearce scoops up his legs and locks in the figure-four leglock. It hasn’t really been set up in the context of the match, so it’s a pretty masturbatory move. Albright makes the ropes and catches Pearce with a powerslam for two. Pearce recovers, though, and hits a flying splash for two. That sets up the STF, but Albright reverses to a Crowbar. Pearce makes the ropes, so Albright goes up. Pearce knocks him through a table below, though. Albright crawls back in the ring just before the count. Pearce picks him up for THE PILEDRIVER! ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Huge pop for the kickout. Pearce can’t believe it. He charges and misses! Albright with the Half-Nelson Suplex. AND ANOTHER! ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Pearce staggers up, but Albright catches him. ROLLING GERMANS! ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! The crowd is solidly behind Brent Albright now. He goes up top slowly and sees that Pearce has recovered, so he sunset flips him! Pearce rolls through and goes for a figure-four, but Albright reverses that to a small package! ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Albright comes out of it with the Crowbar, though, and Pearce is forced to tap out at 19:40! One of the biggest pops in ROH. AWESOME! Who would have thought that these two would turn in a great match? It was a bit of a hybrid of old-school 1980s build and new millennium moves. Adam Pearce’s use of the figure-four, while nonsensical in the match psychology is perfect for his character psychology because he goes on and on about how being an NWA champion puts him on the level of Harley Race, Ric Flair and Jack Brisco. His figure-four is just Pearce trying to make his own title defense as epic as past reigns had been, but he’s, at heart, just a clueless putz who lucked into the title, so he really has no idea when or where or why to use the move appropriately, just that he wants to work it in. The final stretch had the place rockin’ too. This was one of the best matches on an ROH show all year. ****1/2

In the back, Rhett Titus tries to show the Briscoes his video, but they’re not having it.

Claudio Castagnoli kicks Jimmy Bower (or is it Chris Lovey?) out of his dressing room.

Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs vs. The Necro Butcher.
For those who have been following the story, Aries and Jacobs have been engaged in a blood feud, and Necro has been caught in the middle, not knowing who to side with (if anyone). So, basically, Austin Aries could be walking right into a handicap match. Early on, that’s just what it is as they swarm Aries. Aries backdrops Necro over and hits a suicida. Jimmy jumps Aries from behind, allowing Necro to recover and grab a chair. He spends a bit too much time on the apron, though, and Aries reverses a whip, sending Jacobs into Necro. Oops. Necro turns on Jacobs and asks him what’s what? Jimmy convinces him that it was an accident, though, so they team up against Aries again. Jimmy hits a senton, but Necro goes for the pin, triggering Jimmy to blow up. Jimmy reminds Necro that he’s Jimmy’s soldier, not his own man. Jimmy wants Necro to rip out Aries’ eyeball. Necro turns his back to think it over, and when Aries misses Jimmy with a chairshot he accidentally nails Necro. Aries thinks quickly, though, and pulls an Eddy Guerrero, tossing the chair to Jimmy and falling down as if he’s still hurt. Necro finally turns on Jacobs and nails him with the chairshot before walking out. Big pop for that. That leaves Jimmy open for an IED to set up the Brainbuster and 450-splash from Aries at 11:47. And now Jimmy has to face Necro thanks to a previous stipulation. Aries looks like a genius. The match wasn’t much more than angle advancement, but it worked for what it was. **

In the back, Daizee Haze tries to cut a promo again, but The Motor City Machine Guns ask her if she wants to have a threesome. Um, wrong kind of threesome, guys. Alex Shelley’s game is hilariously week. Daizee walks out, allowing the Guns to cut a promo on Steenerico.

Bryan Danielson explains the importance of tonight’s match.

Delirious comes out to kick off the second half by calling down Daizee Haze and asking her out. Rhett Titus comes out and tells Delirious not to bother with Daizee because she’s “used goods.” He also debuts some Rick Rude-ish tights with Daizee’s picture on the ass. Delirious goes nuts and clears Rhett out of the ring. With Titus gone, Delirious asks again. Daizee says she just wants to be friends, though, punches through his chest, grabs his heart and squashes it under her foot – metaphorically speaking. She tries to explain she just has too much going on in life with the SHIMMER title feud and everything. She offers friendship and no more. The ROH crowd makes fun of Delirious for getting dumped, thus demonstrating their love of irony.

Go Shiozaki vs. Naomichi Marufuji.
I guess Sweeney and company are still sobbing over the loss of the NWA Title because Shiozaki is going it alone. Marufuji avoids Go’s chops early using his quickness, but Go chops him out of the air on a leapfrog attempt. They do that spiffy avoidance sequence that ends with them trying to dropkick each other. I think Kanemoto and Otani popularized that. Shiozaki dominates early, but Marufuji gets really dickish and gives him a brainbuster on the apron. That’s what experience gives you, kid. Sick move as he hits a running dropkick from the floor to Go’s head as Go is leaning against the middle rope. Go chops his way back and gets two off a flying kneedrop. Marufuji catches him with a dropkick. That sets up a flipping Mind Trip and a superkick to the face. ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Go blocks the Shiranui and hits a Fisherman’s Suplex for two. Marufuji kicks his way out of a Dragon Sleeper but gets powerbombed into the turnbuckle. Marufuji rolls to the apron where Go tries to German Suplex him on the apron. Instead, Marufuji reverses to a SHIRANUI FROM THE APRON TO THE FLOOR! Go groggily crawls back in to the ring but gets nailed with a springboard dropkick by Marufuji. Marufuji sets up for the Shiranui, but Go counters to a tree-of-woe clothesline reminiscent of Stan Hansen. Go tries to finish with the Dragon Sleeper, but it’s countered to a cradle by Marufuji! ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Go kicks out and hits the Orange Crush. ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Marufuji avoids a charge and clotheslines Go, but Go shows FIGHTING SPIRIT and hits his own. Marufuji slips over his shoulder and stomps Go’s face right into the canvas. That sets up an enzuigiri for two. Go no-sells a superkick but gets ROCKED by a second one. That sets up the Pole Shift (Michinoku Driver II) for the win at 22:57. Another fantastic match that was highlighted by Go’s power moves and Naomichi’s experience and quickness. Everything was hit spot on and with little hesitation. The execution is amazing, even compared to some of the best wrestlers ROH has to offer. ****1/4

Tyler Black says he’s not about to return to obscurity after having a taste of the main event.

Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. The Motor City Machine Guns.
Steen and Generico are trying to fight their way back into contention here. It’s pretty back-and-forth early until Steen tags in and uses the Guns’ doubleteam trick against them. He and Shelley exchange bodily fluids, but probably not in the way you might be thinking. The Guns then go into their usual on-point tandem offense and isolate Generico. The Guns may be the best tandem offense tag team in North American history. It’s really just between them and the Rockers. The Guns have a greater degree of difficulty, though. Steen gets the hot tag and overpowers the Guns. He puts Sabin in the Sharpshooter as Generico wipes out Shelley with a somersault plancha. Sabin makes the ropes, though. The Guns knock Steen down, and Sabin and Generico battle above him on the top rope. Shelley adds an assist, and Sabin is able to huracanrana Generico onto Steen. Shelley adds the frogsplash! ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! The Guns set Generico up for the assisted Sliced Bread #2, but Generico fights them off and Steen adds a cannonball. Sharpshooter to Sabin! Turnbuckle brainbuster to Shelley! There’s no one to save him, so Sabin has to tap out at 19:50. Yet another great match. The Guns were their usual awesome selves, and Steen & Generico were willing to match them with great moves and comedy. ***3/4

In the back, The Briscoes are celebrating with a beer. Daizee Haze offers her services – as a backup in the ring, pervs – but the Briscoes awkwardly blow her off.

Elsewhere, Kevin Steen is philosophical about the win. He pumps Generico up and tells him not to let up until they have the titles.

ROH World Title, Four-Way Elimination: Nigel McGuinness vs. Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Tyler Black.
The announcers harp on Claudio for whining about not being able to get over the hump. Strong start as Danielson and McGuinness get dumped, and Tyler and Claudio hit dives to the floor on them. Nigel tries to stay out of it as much as possible. You really have to see how fluid it is. Kind of meandering after that until everyone starts firing off big moves. Claudio with the Apomari Waterslide, and he finally corners Nigel. Tyler screws it all up by dropkicking him in the back, though. Danielson knocks Black out with the Stampede Dropkick and ranas Claudio. It turns into a big schmozz with everyone hitting big moves only to get jumped from behind. Nigel nails Black with the crotched clothesline. Danielson avoids the Jawbreaker Lariat and clotheslines Nigel to the floor. That sets up the springboard plancha into the audience. Back in, Danielson goes for the Stampede Dropkick, but Claudio catches him in the Big Swing. Claudio catches Danielson with the pop-up European and covers, but Danielson reverses to the small package at 16:13. Claudio disagrees with the count and goes after Danielson with the Ricolabomb. The locker room empties to pull Claudio off him as Nigel giggles with glee. Castagnoli stomps a chair into Danielson’s head before finally being pulled to the back. Nigel just hauls Danielson up, hits a short lariat, and pins him at 19:37. Tyler picks his spot and hits a springboard lariat. His frogsplash misses, and Nigel gets two. Naomichi Marufuji comes out to watch. Nigel sets up for the Tower of London, but Black knocks him back and hits the frogsplash. ONE, TWO, THR-NO! Nigel hits his Tower of London anyway. JAWBREAKER LAR-NO! Black spins around and powerbombs Nigel into the buckle. That sets up an F5! ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Nigel goes up, but Black catches him with the superplex into the PAROXYSM! ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Fans are REALLY into it at this point. Black with a kick to the head. ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Nigel pops up and hits a lariat for two. Nigel leans back and rebound for the Jawbreaker Laria-NO! Tyler ducks and hits GOD’S LAST GIFT! ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Nigel falls back and hits the JAWBREAKER LARIAT! ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! The Tower of London sets up the running European for two more. Nigel goes for the crotched lariat, but Black ducks. Black kicks him back and springboards into a – lariat. ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Nigel turns him over into the London Dungeon, but Tyler counters to a cradle for two. Black hits a desperation enzuigiri, but Nigel rebounds with a lariat. Now he’s pissed. Nigel hits one more stiff lariat to knock Black silly and gets the win at 30:23. The early stuff with Claudio and Danielson was just angle fodder as an intro to the real match. This was really just a Nigel vs. Tyler contest, and a good one at that. I don’t think anyone believed Tyler was going over, but for a few nearfalls, they got you to think “maybe.” ****

The 411: The best ROH show since Supercard of Honor III. It rivals, and perhaps surpasses, that show. When Adam Pearce and Brent Albright are on, you know you're having a special night. A must for ROH fans, and a good intro for fans looking for great in-ring action.